NORWICH – The U.S. Bankruptcy Court approved Tops Markets’ bid to appropriate the greater part of Penn Traffic’s assets, including its 79 P&C stores, on Monday, and closure of the sale is expected to be announced by the end of the week. At stake for local residents is the fate of the downtown P&C, which employs 64 union and two non-union workers, and provides services to the many members of the community who are without the benefit of transportation.

Two important aspects of the transition process, according to a Tops spokesperson, involve the status of individual stores and the banners under which they will be operating.

“It is Tops’ intention to run as many stores, and retain as many jobs, as possible,” said Communications and Public Relations Manager Kate McKenna. “Over the next month, Tops will be diligently evaluating all 79 locations, including the stores’ economic viability, to determine which stores Tops will continue to operate, sell to other retailers, or close.”

Tops was the first operator of the East Main Street plaza store, but closed in 2006, transferring ownership to P&C. Tops’ Penn Traffic purchase has many speculating whether the chain would want to return to a market it had once abandoned.